Researchers Hopeful Women May Benefit From CBD
Can CBD help post-menopausal women? That was the question researchers at Rutgers University explored in an animal study. In the controlled study, some mice who were deficient in estrogen were given a steady diet of peanut butter balls with CBD, and the remainder were given CBD-free peanut butter balls. The results indicated CBD might help lessen the systems associated with low estrogen levels after menopause.
After menopause, estrogen levels decline, leading to various symptoms that can significantly worsen women’s health. They include gastrointestinal disorders, weight gain, and others. There may also be cognitive decline. The main treatment for women experiencing severe systems is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, there are many health risks associated with HRT.
Finding a safe therapeutic alternative to HRT and one that can be given to more women would benefit tens of millions of women. The mice were fed peanut butter balls for 18 weeks. The ones who ate the CBD-laced food burned more energy and readily disposed of glucose. They also had fewer infections in bone tissues and the gut and higher levels of gut bacteria. The mice that were not fed CBD developed symptoms associated with post-menopause.
This is the first study to investigate anecdotal claims that CBD delivers health benefits for women experiencing menopause or in the post-menopausal stage. Diana Roopchand, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) division said,
“Other therapeutic options with fewer safety concerns are needed for the prevention of chronic disease in this underserved demographic. CBD is already being used by many women to deal with symptoms of menopause and post-menopause. This study provides preclinical evidence to support further investigation of CBD as a therapeutic for post-menopause-related disorders.”
This is an important study because it will trigger additional clinical research in the future. So many women suffer serious health conditions after menopause, and there are few options for addressing the symptoms. The average age for the start of menopause is 51, meaning women spend about one-third of their lives with declining or low estrogen. It is hoped that follow-up research will quickly continue.
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